ephemeral [ Conrad Fisher ]

19

The party downstairs was still in full swing, the music thumping loudly, laughter echoing through the house. But I needed a break from all the chaos. Conrad and Liam's fight had left me feeling embarrassed and overwhelmed, and I needed a moment of solitude to collect my thoughts.

I quietly slipped away from the crowd and headed upstairs. The second floor of Nicole's house was quieter, with most of the partygoers concentrated on the main floor. I found a guest room that was unoccupied and stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

I leaned against the door, letting out a shaky breath. The events of the evening replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but cringe at the memory of Conrad and Liam brawling like a couple of idiots. It was embarrassing, and I wished I could erase the whole scene from my memory.

As I stood there, trying to calm my racing heart, I realized that I had left my phone downstairs. I needed to text Shayla and let her know that I was okay, considering she had witnessed the whole debacle. With a sigh, I turned to leave the room and retrieve my phone.

But as I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, I was met with an unexpected sight. Steven and Taylor were pressed against each other, locked in a passionate kiss.

I froze, my face burning with embarrassment. "Oh, um, sorry," I stammered, quickly backing away and closing the door. My heart was racing even faster now, and I couldn't believe I had just stumbled upon them making out. I couldn't believe he would do Shayla like that - hadn't he just come to me for advice? Fucking boys.

I turned to head in the opposite direction, desperate to put some distance between myself and that awkward encounter. But as I walked down the hallway, I suddenly collided with someone, nearly stumbling backward.

"I didn't mean to find you like this," Conrad's voice came from in front of me as he reached out to steady me.

I looked up at him, my cheeks still flushed from embarrassment. "It's fine," I mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

Conrad frowned, his expression concerned. "Are you okay, Nox? You look... flustered."

I let out a nervous laugh, trying to play it off. "Yeah, just... you know, the whole fight thing downstairs was a lot to handle."

He nodded in understanding, his blue eyes searching mine. "I'm really sorry you had to see that. I promise I'll make it up to you."

I shrugged, not wanting to dwell on it. "It's not your fault. Liam is just... Liam."

Conrad took a step closer, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body. "Nox, there's something I need to tell you."

I met his gaze, my curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

He hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "I like you, Lennox. A lot."

My heart skipped a beat at his confession, and I felt a rush of warmth spreading through me. To hear him  really say it out loud, to put words behind his actions was both exhilarating and terrifying.

"I like you too, Conrad," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But... you're trashed right now. You won't remember any of this in the morning."

Conrad let out a soft chuckle, his fingers gently tracing my cheek. "Maybe I won't remember, but I'll always feel the same way about you, Nox."

Before I could respond, he leaned in and kissed me, his lips soft and warm against mine. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in that dimly lit hallway. And for that brief moment, I let myself forget about the chaos downstairs and the uncertainty of what the future held.